Vessel cutting devices

ABSTRACT

A catheter-based system for accessing specific body cavities percutaneously and minimizing patient trauma is provided. In the preferred embodiment, in order to create an aperture at an access site in a patient&#39;s existing tubular body organ structure, a delivery sheath is passed axially along the interior of a portion of the existing tubular body organ structure to place a distal end of the delivery sheath near the access site. A centering wire is passed axially along the interior of the delivery sheath, piercing through from inside to outside of the patient&#39;s existing tubular body organ structure at the access site by causing an end portion of the centering wire to emerge from the distal end of the delivery sheath. A cutting catheter is passed substantially coaxially over the centering wire and axially along the interior of the delivery sheath. The aperture is formed by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from inside to outside of the patient&#39;s existing tubular body organ structure at the access site and advancing the distal end of the delivery sheath through from inside to outside of the patient&#39;s existing tubular body organ structure at the access site.

[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/850,021, filed May 7, 2001, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/014,759, filed Jan. 28, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,527). Both of these prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to vessel cutting devices for use in the repair, replacement, or supplement of a medical patient's natural body organ structures or tissues. More particularly, this invention relates to vessel cutting devices for use in vascular anastomosis (the surgical connection of vessels).

[0003] An example of the possible uses of the invention is a minimally invasive cardiac bypass procedure. This and other examples are considered in detail in Goldsteen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,178, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

[0004] Vascular anastomosis is a delicate and time-consuming procedure in which fast and accurate vessel cutting plays a particularly important role.

[0005] In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a catheter-based system for accessing specific body cavities percutaneously, thereby minimizing patient trauma.

[0006] It would also be desirable to provide fast and accurate vessel cutting devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a catheter-based system for accessing specific body cavities percutaneously, thereby minimizing patient trauma. It is also an object to provide fast and accurate vessel cutting devices.

[0008] These and other objects are accomplished by providing a method and apparatus for creating an aperture at an access site in a patient's existing tubular body organ structure by passing a delivery sheath axially along the interior of a portion of the existing tubular body organ structure to place a distal end of the delivery sheath near the access site, passing a centering wire axially along the interior of the delivery sheath, piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site by causing an end portion of the centering wire to emerge from the distal end of the delivery sheath, passing a cutting catheter substantially coaxially over the centering wire and axially along the interior of the delivery sheath, forming the aperture by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site and advancing the distal end of the delivery sheath through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site.

[0009] In one embodiment, the distal end of the cutting catheter is rotated to cut through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site. In another embodiment, a cutting catheter with a conical (preferably star-shaped) cutting edge is pushed through the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site.

[0010] The present invention can also be used to create an aperture in the patient's existing tubular body organ structure by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from outside to inside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site.

[0011] In the most preferred embodiment, all or substantially all necessary apparatus is inserted into the patient via the patient's existing body organ vessel. In addition, all or substantially all apparatus functions are controlled by the physician (a term used herein to also include supporting technicians) from outside the patient's body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

[0013]FIG. 1a is a simplified sectional view showing the distal end of a delivery sheath in the interior of a portion of the existing tubular body organ structure with a centering wire piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site;

[0014]FIG. 1b is a view similar to portions of FIG. 1a showing a centering wire piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site, wherein the end portion of the centering wire includes a selectively enlargeable structure;

[0015]FIG. 1c is another view similar to portions of FIG. 1a showing a centering wire piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site, wherein the end portion of the centering wire includes fasteners;

[0016]FIG. 2 is yet another view similar to FIG. 1a showing a cutting catheter positioned for cutting at the distal end of a delivery sheath at the access site;

[0017]FIG. 3 is still another view similar to FIG. 1a showing forming the aperture by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site;

[0018]FIG. 4 is yet another view similar to FIG. 1a showing advancing the distal end of the delivery sheath through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site;

[0019]FIG. 5 is a simplified elevational view, partly in section, showing the distal end of the cutting catheter advancing through from outside to inside to create an aperture in the patient's existing tubular body organ structure;

[0020]FIG. 6 is a side view of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure of FIG. 5, showing the aperture created;

[0021]FIG. 7a is still another view similar to FIG. 1a showing the distal end of a delivery sheath in the interior of a portion of the existing tubular body organ structure with a centering wire piercing through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site, wherein the cutting catheter includes a dilator;

[0022]FIG. 7b is yet another view similar to FIG. 1a forming the aperture by advancing a distal end of the cutting catheter through from inside to outside of the patient's existing tubular body organ structure at the access site, wherein the cutting catheter includes a dilator;

[0023]FIG. 7c is still another view similar to FIG. 1a showing advancing the delivery sheath through the aperture at the access site; and

[0024]FIG. 8 is yet another view similar to FIG. 1a showing a delivery sheath which includes distal and proximal selectively enlargeable structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] As a preliminary step in creating an aperture at an access site 10 in a patient's existing tubular body organ structure 1, a delivery sheath 20 is passed axially along the interior of a portion of tubular body organ structure 1 to place a distal end of delivery sheath 20 near access site 10. When the distal end of delivery sheath 20 is adjacent to access site 10, a centering wire 30 is passed axially along the interior of the sheath until the end portion of centering wire 30 emerges from the distal end of the sheath and pokes through from inside to outside of tubular body organ structure 1. Centering wire 30 provides a pilot track for cutting catheter 40 to follow. FIG. 1a shows the distal end of delivery sheath 20 in the interior of a portion of tubular body organ structure 1 with a centering wire 30 piercing through from inside to outside of the organ structure at access site 10.

[0026] The distal end of centering wire 30 is preferably deformable to facilitate deployment and removal, but resumes its operational (preferably hooked) shape once deployed. Centering wire 30 is kept relatively straight when it is inside sheath 20. But, when centering wire 30 is pushed axially out the distal end of sheath 20, it curves to one side, as shown in FIGS. 1a, 1 b and 1 c. FIGS. 1b and 1 c show alternative structures for centering wire 30. In FIG. 1b, the end portion of centering wire 30 includes a selectively enlargeable structure (such as a balloon 50 which extends annularly around the exterior of the centering wire and projects radially outwardly from the centering wire in all radially outward directions when inflated). In FIG. 1c, the end portion of centering wire 30 includes struts 55 spaced circumferentially around centering wire 30 and which are resiliently biased to project from the centering wire after the end portion of the centering wire pierces through body organ structure 1 at access site 10. By providing a selectively enlargeable structure disposed on the exterior of the centering wire at a predetermined distance proximally from the distal end of the centering wire and enlarging that structure after the centering wire has pierced organ structure 1, it is possible to prevent the portion of centering wire 30 which is distal of the enlargeable structure from passing back into the organ structure. In addition to the retaining function, the enlargeable structure serves to seal the aperture and displace tissue from around the outside of organ structure 1 near access site 10, thereby creating a space. Such a space helps to prevent cutting head 45 from cutting other tissues after exiting organ structure 1 at access site 10.

[0027] After piercing through organ structure 1 at access site 10 with centering wire 30, cutting catheter 40 is passed substantially coaxially over the centering wire and axially along the interior of sheath 20. FIG. 2 shows cutting head 45 of cutting catheter 40 positioned for cutting at the distal end of delivery sheath 20 at access site 10.

[0028] Centering wire 30 holds cutting catheter 40 and delivery sheath 20 against organ structure 1 at access site 10, thereby preventing undue bleeding during and after the creation of the aperture that could occur if the cutting catheter and the delivery sheath were to move away from the access site. FIG. 3 shows how the aperture is formed by advancing the distal end of cutting catheter 40 (i.e., cutting head 45) through from inside to outside of organ structure 1 at access site 10 by rotating and/or pushing the distal end of the cutting catheter.

[0029] As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the distal end of cutting catheter 40 has a circular cutting edge. Cutting catheter 40, which when advanced by rotation, cuts through tissue and removes tissue plug 60. The preferred embodiment of cutting head 45 also includes a serrated cutting edge and an axially aligned recess for accepting tissue plug 60. By removing plug 60 of tissue (rather than merely displacing tissue, as in FIGS. 5 and 6), the elastic recoil of organ structure 1 at access site 10 is reduced, which may be a desirable condition for optimal graft attachment.

[0030]FIG. 4 shows advancing the distal end of delivery sheath 20 through from inside to outside of organ structure 1 at access site 10 and removing centering wire 30 and cutting catheter 40 along with tissue plug 60 contained within cutting head 45.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 5, non-rotating cutting catheter 40 can be used to create specific geometric aperture shapes (e.g., oblong aperture 70 for coronary anastomosis). FIG. 5 also shows the use of the present invention in creating an aperture in organ structure 1 by advancing a distal end of cutting catheter 40 through from outside to inside of the organ structure at access site 10. Centering wire 30 is tracked through cutting catheter 40 and is shown piercing organ structure 1 at access site 10. Following such an outside-to-inside aperture, delivery sheath 20 can be passed axially along the interior of a portion of organ structure 1 to place a distal end of delivery sheath 20 near second access site 10 where an inside-to-outside aperture can be created. (Note that organ structure 1 is shown smaller in scale relative to sheath 20 and cutting catheter 40.)

[0032]FIG. 6 is a side view of organ structure 1, showing aperture 70 created using non-rotating cutting catheter 40 of FIG. 5.

[0033] Cutting catheter 40 shown in FIG. 7a is a rotating catheter. Cutting head 45 could be a saw-tooth or a razor-edge type, for example. The distal end of delivery sheath 20 is shown in the interior of a portion of organ structure 1 with centering wire 30 piercing through from inside to outside of the organ structure at access site 10, wherein cutting catheter 40 includes dilator 80. Dilator 80 facilitates advancing sheath 20 through the aperture (as is shown by the succession of steps illustrated by FIGS. 7b and 7 c).

[0034] The outer diameter of dilator 80 is close to the inner diameter of sheath 20 and is typically larger than the diameter of cutting head 45. As shown in FIG. 7b, as dilator 80 advances through the aperture at access site 10, the aperture is simultaneously sealed against bleeding.

[0035]FIG. 8 shows delivery sheath 20 which includes proximal and distal selectively enlargeable structures 90, 100. Preferably, both selectively enlargeable structures 90 and 100 are balloons which extend annularly around the exterior of delivery sheath 20 and project radially outward when inflated. Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 includes both proximal and distal selectively enlargeable structures, either one or both may be included. When enlarged, proximal selectively enlargeable structure 90 prevents more than the portion of delivery sheath 20 which is distal of the enlargeable structure from passing out of the tubular structure via the aperture. Similarly, when enlarged, distal selectively enlargeable structure 100 prevents the portion of delivery sheath 20 which is distal of the enlargeable structure from passing back in to the tubular structure via the aperture.

[0036] As an illustrative example of the application of the present invention, consider the following. Delivery sheath 20 (preferably about 4.0 mm in diameter) including cutting catheter 40 is introduced into organ structure 1 percutaneously through the femoral artery near the thigh. Cutting catheter 40 includes cutting head 45 (preferably about 3.5 mm in diameter). Delivery sheath 20 is positioned at access site 10, here the ascending aorta. Centering wire 30 is tracked through cutting catheter 40 and is caused to pierce the aortic artery at access site 10. Cutting catheter 40 is then tracked over centering wire 30 by either pushing or rotating (or a combination of both pushing and rotating) and caused to advance through the aortic wall. An approximately 3.5 mm aperture is created with tissue plug 60 retained in cutting head 45 and removed along with the cutting catheter 40. Delivery sheath 20 can now be advanced through the approximately 3.5 mm aperture created by the cutting catheter 40, causing organ structure 1 to stretch slightly (i.e., about 0.5 mm). This stretching is desirable because it provides a blood seal around delivery sheath 20 to prevent bleeding into the chest cavity. Delivery sheath 20 can now be used to introduce other catheters (including cameras, for example) from the femoral artery into the chest cavity for the purpose of diagnosis or intervention (e.g., grafts or TMR laser surgery).

[0037] To minimize patient trauma, delivery sheath 20, cutting catheter 40, and centering wire 30 are all preferably coupled to and controlled by a controller located on the outside of the patient.

[0038] Various methods and apparatus for delivering and installing plugs in walls of organ structures, as well as methods and apparatus for promoting the closing and healing of apertures in walls of organ structures, are available (e.g., of the type shown in Goldsteen et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,976,178; published PCT patent application WO 98/47430; and published PCT patent application WO 98/55027, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein).

[0039] Thus, it is seen that a method and apparatus for creating an aperture at an access site in-a patient's existing tubular body organ structure and making it possible to access specific body cavities percutaneously, thereby minimizing patient trauma, is provided. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration and not of limitation, and the present invention is limited only by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising: a penetration head having a sharp tip adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel; a base section defining an inner lumen; at least one cutting surface defined on said base section and adapted to cut through a wall of said blood vessel without said apparatus pulling said blood vessel towards said cutting surface; and a shaft mechanically coupling said penetration head to said base section, said shaft defining a tissue holding shaft section between said base section and said penetration head, said penetration head adapted to prevent tissue transfixed on said shaft section from slipping off said penetration head, said shaft having a first mechanically defined and axially locked resting position in which said penetration head is at least partially enclosed by said base section in said inner lumen and a second mechanically defined resting position in which said penetration head is axially locked relative to said base section and said shaft section is exposed between said base section and said penetration head.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein moving said shaft between said positions is not mechanically coupled to rotation of said base section.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said penetration head has a geometry of a cone.
 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said penetration head comprises at least one protrusion having a radial extent greater than a minimum diameter of said shaft section.
 5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said at least one protrusion comprises a barb cut out of said shaft section.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said barb is elastic and flexible enough to be pushed against said shaft section by said wall of said vessel when said penetration head is inserted into said vessel.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein in said first resting position said penetration head is fully retracted into said lumen.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, adapted for forming an aperture from outside a blood vessel.
 9. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said shaft is rigid.
 10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said penetration head is adapted and arranged to not pull back said vessel wall during said cutting.
 11. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising externally powered means from moving said shaft between said positions.
 12. Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising: a penetration head having a sharp tip adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel, said tip defining a lumen in a direction of said wall; a base section defining an inner lumen; at least one cutting surface defined on said base section and adapted to cut through a wall of said blood vessel; and a shaft mechanically coupling said penetration head to said base section and fixing an axial position of said penetration head relative to said base.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said lumen is adapted to engage tissue.
 14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said lumen is adapted to allow one directional of motion of tissue relative to the lumen.
 15. Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising: a penetration head having a sharp tip adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel; a base section defining an inner lumen; at least one cutting surface defined on said base section and adapted to cut through a wall of said blood vessel without said apparatus pulling said blood vessel towards said cutting surface; and a shaft mechanically coupling said penetration head to said base section and fixing an axial position of said penetration head relative to said base.
 16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said inner lumen is adapted to engage tissue.
 17. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said penetration head has a fixed diameter.
 18. Hole forming apparatus for forming an opening in a blood vessel, comprising: a base section defining an inner lumen, said inner lumen being adapted to engage blood vessel tissue; at least one cutting surface defined on said base section and adapted to cut through a wall of said blood vessel; and a trans-axial stabilizer having a fixed axial position relative to said cutting surface.
 19. Hole forming apparatus for forming a hole in a blood vessel, comprising: a penetration shaft, having a tip adapted to be inserted through a wall of a blood vessel; a tissue holder, configured to hold a portion of said wall, said holder being activated to perform said holding separately from an insertion of said penetration shaft through said wall; and a cutting surface adapted to cut through the wall.
 20. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder comprises a flexible barb.
 21. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the tissue holder comprises a hollow tube surrounding the penetration shaft.
 22. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder lies alongside said penetration shaft.
 23. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder is mounted on said penetration shaft and comprising a holder releaser configured to selectively release said holder to hold tissue.
 24. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder is configured to be advanced along said penetration shaft after said insertion.
 25. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder is configured to be axially moved relative to said penetration shaft, thereby activating said tissue holder.
 26. Apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said tissue holder is configured to be rotated relative to said penetration shaft, thereby activating said tissue holder.
 27. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said cutting surface is configured to cut by rotation.
 28. Apparatus according to claim 27, wherein said cutting surface is not rotationally fixed to said tissue holder.
 29. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said cutting surface is configured to cut by from an opposite side of said wall from said penetration tip.
 30. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said cutting surface is configured to cut by from a same side of said wall from said penetration tip.
 31. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said penetration tip is configured to enter said wall from an outside of said vessel.
 32. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said tissue holder engages a wall of said vessel.
 33. Apparatus according to any of claim 19-26, wherein said tissue holder contacts a wall of said vessel at a stop location and thereby prevents relative motion of said wall in a direction of said stop location.
 34. Hole forming apparatus for forming a hole in a blood vessel, comprising: a penetration head adapted to penetrate a blood vessel wall; a slotted anchor, defining a trans-axial slot having a width sufficient to receive a thickness of said wall; and a cutting surface configured to cut said wall while said wall is held by said slotted anchor.
 35. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said anchor comprises a trans-axially-slotted tube.
 36. Hole forming apparatus according to claim 34, wherein the penetration head comprises a distal portion of the anchor.
 37. Hole forming apparatus according to any of claims 34-36, and including a tissue holder which prevents a cut out portion of the wall of the blood vessel from passing into the blood vessel.
 38. Apparatus according to claim 34, wherein said cutting surface is formed on a proximal side of said penetration head.
 39. Instrumentation for facilitating cutting an opening in a side wall of a body conduit comprising: a tubular structure defining a lumen and having a sharpened distal end portion configured to cut a section of the body conduit to create the opening; and a tissue holding structure axially movable within the lumen of the tubular structure, the tissue holding structure comprising a piercing portion to permit passage of the tissue holding structure through the body conduit from an entrance side adjacent the tubular structure to an exit side thereof, and a retention member to secure the section of the body conduit to the tissue holding structure during movement of the tissue holding structure to approximate the entrance side of the section of the body conduit and the sharpened distal portion of the tubular structure which cuts the section of body conduit.
 40. The instrumentation as defined in claim 39, wherein the tissue holding structure and the section of body conduit secured thereto by the retention member are movable into the lumen of the tubular structure.
 41. The instrumentation as defined in claim 39, wherein the retention member is a barb that is resiliently biased radially outwardly in order to secure the section of body conduit.
 42. The instrumentation as defined in claim 41, wherein the barb is deflected radially inwardly during the distal passage of the tissue holding structure through the section of the body conduit.
 43. The instrumentation as defined in claim 39, wherein the sharpened distal end portion of the tubular structure is configured to cut the section of body conduit by axial rotation of the tubular structure.
 44. The instrumentation as defined in claim 39, wherein the sharpened distal end portion of the tubular structure is configured to cut the section of body conduit by longitudinal advancement of the tubular structure through the body conduit.
 45. A method for cutting an opening in a body conduit comprising: providing a tissue holding structure having a retention member to secure a section of the body conduit to the tissue holding structure; securing the retention member to the section of the body conduit by at least partially inserting the tissue holding structure into the body conduit; providing a tubular structure having a sharpened distal portion; approximating the body conduit and the sharpened distal portion of the tubular structure by relative movement of the tissue holding structure towards the tubular structure; and cutting the section of the body conduit with the sharpened distal portion of the tubular structure to provide the opening in the body conduit.
 46. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein the tubular structure defines an internal lumen, the method further comprising: after cutting the section of the body conduit, withdrawing the tissue holding structure and the section of the body conduit into the internal lumen of the tubular structure.
 47. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein cutting the section of the body conduit comprises angularly rotating the tubular structure while contacting the section of body conduit.
 48. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein cutting the section of the body conduit comprises longitudinally advancing the tubular structure through the section of body conduit.
 49. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein the retention member is a barb that is resiliently biased radially outwardly in order to secure the tissue holding structure to the body conduit and capable of deflection radially inwardly, and wherein securing the retention member to the body conduit comprises maintaining the barb radially inwardly while inserting the tissue holding structure into the body conduit, and subsequently allowing the barb to deflect radially outwardly to engage the body conduit.
 50. The method as defined in claim 45, wherein the tissue holding structure further comprises a piercing portion, and wherein securing the retention member to the body conduit comprises piercing the body conduit with the piercing portion of the tissue holding structure. 